RunRyder - Update Spektrum firmware at home??? (part2)

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Radio - JR & Spektrum DSM > Update Spektrum firmware at home??? (part2)

helimodels
Senior Heliman
Location: Dublin, Ireland

if 14MZ can be done via a download, and it can, so can spektrum/JR
wake up paul!!!!!!!

05-10-2008 07:56 AM

HOMEPAGE

giaffa
Senior Heliman
Location: Sao Paulo - BRAZIL

Also out of luck in Brazil....

The Brazilian Spektrum distribuitor (Diniz Esteves Enterprises) said they don't do the firmware update so all Brazilian Spektrum users are out of luck here as well

An Ideal solution would be an update system as the Castle Creations...
A not so good solution would be a wake-up call from Horizon to the Brazilian Distribuitor

>>> Doing it inverted is better! <<<

05-13-2008 07:45 PM

HOMEPAGE

village_idiot
Senior Heliman
Location: Land of confusion

I doubt it is the distributors fault, they probably can't get the "special" cable anf firmware binary if they try. They should probably try though and see what happens.

I wonder what would happen if everyone that does not live in the USA or UK sent their receivers back to Horizon postage due. SInce they aren't working on the problem, they should at least be willing to pick up the complete cost to ship all the way back to the USA or UK for updating.

05-13-2008 10:02 PM

rjmdubois
Senior Heliman
Location: São Paulo - Brazil

I also live in Brazil, and have 8 Spektrum RXs.

My take is: ship to US is not a practical option. Not only you have to deal with the customs and related paperwork, but I am not sure we can ship abroad with the postage due. Also, the whole process means 40-60 days without the RX.

No RX=no fly.

I think a high-tech system like spektrum should offer a on-line firware upgrade solution. At least they could make some additional money selling the interface.

You can upgrade the firmware of almost everything nowadays, even my microwave.

05-14-2008 04:50 AM

village_idiot
Senior Heliman
Location: Land of confusion

I think you need to send a message to Horizon Hobbies in the USA and complain. The more complaints they get, the more likely they are to do something.

The alternative is to buy from a different manufacturer, which may become more reasonable as the other guys get receivers in the size ranges that Spektrum offers.

I also suggest that people do not buy new receivers until Spektrum does something. There are normally enough used receivers going around that this should be possible. When they feel the profits starting to go away, maybe they will think about this again.

But it would allow them to sell a $20 to $30 USD interface, and it would also reduce their return shipping costs, as well as reduce the amount of technician time to perform the upgrades. All in all it should save them a significant amount of money, and they could apply that money to R&D or lower the cost of the receivers a little bit more to make certain that they remain a leader in the game.

While inferior (so far) the Chinese companies are starting to bring products to market, and some of these products work just as well as another system (no names). It won't take long before they offer products as good as Spektrum, and 2/3 less in price.

Since I know that someone from Spektrum is reading this.... Ready to try a test and see how it turns out? Want me to sign an non-compete, non-disclosure form? I've got no problems with that. MR. Beard you can PM me here or at RCGroups and we can make email/snail mail arrangements from there.

05-14-2008 02:37 PM

alfred
Senior Heliman
Location: Australia, New South Wales, Mid North Coast

I have held back purchasing more Spectrum receivers for the exact reason of being unable to determine if the new units were the upgraded firmware versions.

There are still stocks of old versions around. How would you feel, if you had just purchased another RX, just to find out that you have to send it around 1/2 the world to get it updated?
Spectrum has been doing a great job in updating these units with excellent Customer service. My hats off to them.

But it still does not come anywhere near the convenience of doing it at home instantly.
Am I prepared to pay for that prevailedge ? Hell yes.
Would I buy a cheap aftermarket version if the manufacturer has got one out ? Absolutely not.
This isn't a PC that if it doesn't work, you just wipe it and install the proper version.
We have thousands of dollars worth of helies hanging of these RX's, not worth the risk.

But if Spectrum doesn't bring it out, then it will be reverse engineered soon and somebody else will make the profit.

You think it can't happen? Think again.
Linux, a whole operating system has been doing it for hardware for years now. Thousands of different hardware has reverse engineered drivers for hardware, simply because hardware manufacturers wouldn't support the OS.

I would rather buy the original hardware and firmware from the Manufacturer, but it will be done, either by Spectrum or somebody else.
The question is, who is going to make the profit ?

05-15-2008 08:34 AM

village_idiot
Senior Heliman
Location: Land of confusion

Did you check the link in the first post? It is only a matter of free time before this MCU is unlocked. What happens after that is unknown as I know there are a few people working on this right now. And a few of them have a lot more programming experience than I do, so I expect them to find the answer before I do.

And much like Linux, I'm thinking that an open source firmware might be interesting, and VERY possible.

I'm also thinking that a compatible third party receiver might be a good idea, and should be something that can be done without using a single bit of Spektrum "owned" technology. A different RF chip and a different MCU would be all that is required to get the job done and not step on copyrights and patents. That would really hurt sales if Castle came out with compatible receivers even if the features were lesser, as long as the price was lower. Spektrum would lose a lot of money. Necessity being the mother of invention, keeping people happy with a home update might work to their advantage.

I'm contemplating the AR6300/DSP60 receiver/servo flight pack for a new heli frame. The servos look like they would be perfect, and the price isn't too bad, but I'm not sure I really want to put the money into their pockets right now. Especially when I think that the first thing I will need to do is spend some/all the savings from the flight pack on shipping to get the receiver upgraded. I would rather spend that savings on the servo programmer. I may have to go back and think about the Dymond D47 servos again instead. The cost would be about the same.

05-15-2008 06:09 PM

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Radio - JR & Spektrum DSM > Update Spektrum firmware at home??? (part2)

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